What Are Information Products (+ How to Create And Sell Yours)

The information products market hit $341 billion, and you can claim your piece without inventory, shipping, or huge startup costs. Information products like digital courses, ebooks, templates, and memberships let you package what you already know into income that scales while you sleep.

What Are Information Products?

Information products are digital assets that deliver knowledge, solve problems, or teach skills. They include basically anything that packages expertise into a format people can buy and consume online. You're selling your knowledge, not physical goods.

The demand is simple: people want answers fast. They're searching Google right now for solutions to their problems, and they'll pay for organized, actionable information that saves them time and frustration. Someone struggling with their first business doesn't want to piece together random blog posts. They want a complete system that walks them through every step.

The global online education market proves this demand. It's growing because people value on-demand expertise they can access anytime, anywhere. They'd rather pay $50 for a structured course than spend weeks hunting for free information scattered across the internet. Your job is to package what you know into a format that delivers results.

Top 7 Information Products Making Real Money Right Now

Information products come in a variety of formats, from popular digital productions to quick reference guides to comprehensive courses. Below are the most profitable types people to buying in 2025:

1. Online courses

Video-based lessons are organized into modules that teach specific skills or concepts. These often include assignments, quizzes, and certificates to prove completion. The structure keeps students engaged and moving forward through your material.

A smartphone photography course teaching iPhone users how to take professional-quality photos through structured video lessons is a perfect example. Students watch short lessons, practice with their phones, and submit assignments for feedback. The progression from beginner to advanced keeps them engaged and willing to pay premium prices for results.

Courses let you charge premium prices

Courses cost more than other information products because they offer structured learning paths with clear outcomes. Students willingly pay $50 to $500 or more for courses because they get a complete learning path with clear outcomes. Video lets you demonstrate techniques visually, show your screen while explaining software, and connect with students in a way text can't. When people pay for courses, they actually finish them, which gets you better reviews and referrals.

You can start with equipment you already own

You don't need expensive equipment to start creating a course, just the basics and a willingness to begin. A smartphone camera works fine for your first course. Add decent lighting from a window or a $30 ring light and find a quiet room. That's it.

For tutorials, screen recording software like Loom or OBS captures your computer screen. A basic USB microphone like the Blue Snowball runs under $50 and makes your audio way better. Good audio matters more than perfect video. Start with what you have and upgrade as you make money.

Pick your platform based on your goals

Teachable and Thinkific let you build your own course website. You control pricing, own your customer emails, and keep 90% to 95% of revenue. The downside is that you handle all marketing. Udemy puts you in front of millions of students already browsing for courses, but they take 50% when students find you through their platform, and constantly discount your pricing. Skillshare pays based on how long people watch your content, which works if you make engaging videos, but your income fluctuates with the platform's total revenue.

For more information on creating a course that could transform into passive income, you can read my article, Evergreen Course Success: Automated Sales Without Launches.

2. Ebooks and digital guides

Downloadable PDF resources providing in-depth information on specific topics. Portable, accessible, and perfect for readers who want comprehensive guidance they can reference repeatedly. People buy ebooks because they want detailed answers without fluff.

An ebook explaining how to start and run a freelance career covers everything from finding clients to setting rates to managing taxes. It's comprehensive, searchable, and available instantly after purchase. Readers can highlight sections, take notes, and return to specific chapters as they implement the strategies.

Ebooks are the easiest to create

If you can write clearly and organize information, you can make an ebook: no video editing, no design skills, just a computer and a word processor. Once you write it, production costs are zero. Your profit margin is basically 100% after platform fees. Most ebooks sell for $7 to $47, with the sweet spot around $19 to $29 for guides that solve specific problems.

Structure your ebook for results

Your ebook should start with the problem your reader has and promise them a solution they'll get by the end. Chapters work best at 2,000 to 4,000 words so people can finish one in a sitting. Actionable steps matter more than theory because people buy ebooks to implement solutions right away. Screenshots, diagrams, or charts every few pages break up text and keep readers engaged. Each chapter should end with a summary and action items to tackle before moving to the next section.

Choose where to sell based on your audience

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing reaches millions of readers browsing for books in your category. They take 30% to 65% depending on your price, but that massive audience often justifies the fees when you're starting.

Gumroad gives you full control over pricing and charges 10% plus payment processing fees. You own your content completely. Your own website keeps almost everything, minus 3% payment processing, but you need to drive all traffic yourself through email, social media, or ads.

3. Templates and toolkits

Ready-made files like spreadsheets, calendars, or checklists that help people complete tasks efficiently without starting from scratch. These save buyers hours of work by providing proven frameworks they can customize.

A social media content calendar template that users can customize to plan their posts eliminates the blank-page problem. Instead of building a planning system from scratch, they plug in their content ideas and immediately have an organized schedule. The template includes built-in formulas, formatting, and best practices.

People pay for convenience

A good template saves someone 5 to 10 hours of work and helps them avoid mistakes. They'll pay $5 to $50 for that. You can make templates for almost any business process: invoicing, project management, and social media planning. Once you create it, it sells over and over with zero extra work.

Make templates people actually want to use

Your template should solve a specific problem your audience faces regularly, not just look nice. Clear instructions help people understand how to customize it for their needs. Formulas and automation save them from recalculating everything manually. Professional formatting with clean colors makes it look worth paying for. Testing it yourself and having others try it catches issues before customers find them.

Target the right categories

Budget templates help people track expenses, plan savings, and pay off debt. Business templates like invoices, contracts, and project timelines serve entrepreneurs and freelancers. Content planning templates organize social media, blog schedules, and email campaigns. Design templates for resumes, presentations, and graphics save creative work. These categories have steady demand because people need them monthly or weekly.

4. Membership sites and communities

Private online spaces offering exclusive content, resources, and member interaction via subscription. The recurring revenue model makes these highly profitable once you build momentum.

Graphic designs uploaded to Patreon and unlocked for members give designers a steady monthly income. Members get new designs every week, plus access to the complete archive and a private community where they can request specific designs. The subscription model means predictable income rather than one-time sales.

Memberships give you predictable income

Recurring revenue is the holy grail of online business because it's predictable and compounds over time. Instead of constantly finding new customers, you serve members who pay monthly or annually. 100 members paying $20 monthly gives you $2,000 you can count on each month. Once you build a base, focus on keeping members happy instead of always hunting for new ones. Even with 90% retention, you only replace 10 members monthly instead of finding 100 new ones.

Give members reasons to stay

Regular content delivery keeps members engaged, whether that's weekly tutorials, monthly resources, or daily tips. Exclusive materials, such as templates, guides, or tools, add value beyond the content itself. Community features such as forums, group calls, and private chats help members connect. Offering tiers at different price points like $10, $25, and $50 lets people choose their level and upgrade when they see more value. The key is consistency because members stay when you deliver reliably.

Different platforms serve different needs

Patreon handles everything from payments to content delivery and takes 5% to 12% depending on your plan. Great if you're already creating content regularly. Memberful integrates with WordPress and charges a flat monthly fee, helping you earn more per member as you grow. Circle combines community and courses in one place where content and conversation happen together, charging based on member count.

5. Webinars and workshops

Live or recorded online seminars where experts teach specific topics, answer questions, and provide downloadable resources. The interactive format justifies premium pricing because participants get direct access to expertise.

An interactive Q&A session on how to start an online business lets attendees ask their specific questions and receive personalized guidance. The live element creates urgency and higher perceived value than pre-recorded content. Recording the session gives you a product you can sell repeatedly.

Live webinars get people to show up and buy

When something happens live, people actually show up instead of saying, "I'll watch it later." The Q&A section lets you address objections in real time and remove barriers to purchase. Webinars work great for selling higher-priced courses or coaching. A good webinar converts 10% to 30% of attendees into customers.

Follow a proven structure

Your webinar should hook people with a specific promise they can achieve in 60-90 minutes, like "how to get your first 100 email subscribers in 30 days." Spend 40-50 minutes teaching solid content that proves you know what you're talking about. The pitch for your paid offer comes next for 10-15 minutes as a natural extension of what you just taught. Leave 15-20 minutes at the end for questions, during which you address final concerns. The teaching portion needs to deliver real value, not just a teaser that requires buying to get answers.

Start with the right tools

Zoom handles up to 100 people on basic plans and scales to 500 or more on paid plans. Perfect for starting without spending much. WebinarJam is built specifically for selling, with registration pages, email follow-ups, and one-click upsells built in. StreamYard broadcasts to YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn simultaneously, so you can reach multiple audiences with a single presentation.

6. Audio programs and podcast series

Educational audio content delivered as downloadable episodes focusing on specific skills or topics. Audio works perfectly for people who learn while commuting, exercising, or doing chores.

Daily guided meditation sessions in audio form let people listen anywhere without needing to watch a screen. The convenience of audio makes it ideal for practices people want to integrate into their daily routines. Subscribers get new sessions regularly, creating ongoing value.

Podcasts and audio work when people are busy

People listen to podcasts during commutes, workouts, chores, or before bed when their eyes are busy. Audio creates an intimate connection because your voice is literally in their head. It costs less to produce than a video since you don't need lighting, cameras, or video editing. People can also download and listen anywhere without WiFi.

Create audio that keeps people coming back

A 30-day program teaching a skill or building a habit gives people structure and a reason to return. Episodes work best at 10 to 20 minutes, so they fit into daily routines without feeling like a time commitment. Audio quality matters more than you think, so a decent USB microphone for $50-$100 eliminates background noise. Background music and sound effects make your production feel more polished and professional.

Pick platforms based on your business model

Apple Podcasts and Spotify are the best options for starting a podcast. They reach the largest audiences through free distribution, making them perfect for building an audience you can later convert into paid customers. Gumroad or Payhip lets you sell audio files directly as MP3 downloads. Audible through ACX reaches audiobook listeners and pays royalties. Your own website with a private podcast feed gives you the most control and profit, using tools like Supercast or Memberful for paid subscriptions.

7. Printables and worksheets

Print-ready PDFs users download, print, and use for organizing, planning, or learning. These appeal to people who prefer physical materials over digital screens.

A weekly budget planner helping people track expenses and manage money gives them a tangible tool they can fill out by hand. Many people retain information better when writing rather than typing, making printables more effective than digital alternatives for certain tasks.

A lot of people still prefer paper

Many people think and plan better on paper than on screens. Writing by hand helps with memory and creative thinking. Parents and teachers prefer printables because kids already spend too much time looking at screens. At $3-$15, printables are impulse buys. Successful shops sell hundreds monthly.

Design printables that people use

Your designs need to print well in both black and white and color, so customers can use them regardless of their printer. Instructions should be on the first page or a separate sheet explaining how to use it. Multiple sizes, like US letter and A4, in one purchase increases value without extra work. Editable versions alongside print-ready PDFs let customers customize text fields. Bundling related printables into themed packs enables you to sell for $15-$20 instead of $5 per item.

Sell where printable buyers shop

Etsy has millions of shoppers specifically looking for downloadable planners, trackers, and organizers. Easiest place to start. Teachers Pay Teachers serves educators who spend $20-$50 monthly on classroom materials. Creative Market attracts designers and business owners willing to pay $10-$30 for premium designs. Each platform has different buyers and price expectations.

For more information on how to sell information or digital products, you can read my guide, How To Sell Digital Products (4 easy steps to start today).

How to Start Selling Information Products in 3 Beginner-Friendly Steps

Information products represent a genuine business opportunity. Once you create them, you can sell them repeatedly with low incremental costs. The process is straightforward.

Step 1: Pick your product type and nail your niche

Start by choosing the format that best matches your expertise and audience preferences. If you're great on camera, create video courses. Prefer writing? Launch an ebook. Good with design? Build templates. Match the format to your strengths so you're not fighting against your natural skills.

Then get specific with your niche. Don't try selling "fitness tips" to everyone. Focus on "postpartum fitness for new moms" or "strength training for runners." The more specific you get, the easier it becomes to reach the right people and charge premium prices.

Popular niches that consistently generate sales include personal finance and wealth building, self-improvement and productivity, and beginner-friendly ways to earn money. These topics have proven demand, and people are actively searching for solutions.

Step 2: Choose your platform and set up shop

You need somewhere to sell your products. Marketplaces give you immediate access to existing audiences but take cuts of your revenue and limit your control. Building your own store gives you more control over pricing, customer relationships, and profit margins, but you'll need to drive your own traffic.

Here are popular marketplaces organized by product type:

• Video courses work well on Udemy, Teachable, or Skillshare, where students are already browsing for learning content.
• Ebooks and PDFs sell effectively through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Gumroad, which handle payment processing and delivery automatically.
• Printables and templates can be sold on Etsy or Creative Market, which have built-in audiences searching specifically for these items.
• Audio content reaches listeners through SoundCloud or Apple iTunes Store, giving you access to established podcast audiences.

For most beginners, starting with a marketplace makes sense to validate your idea. Once you have traction and proven sales, build your own platform for higher profit margins. Upload your product, set your price based on market research, and ensure your payment processing works smoothly before launching.

Step 3: Promote strategically to reach buyers

Create a simple landing page explaining what your product does and who it helps. Use clear, benefit-focused language that emphasizes results over features. Tell people what they'll accomplish, not just what they'll learn.

Then drive traffic through multiple channels. Paid ads on Instagram or Facebook targeting your specific niche can generate immediate sales if you have a budget. Email marketing to your existing audience, if you have one, converts better than any other channel. Organic content on social media, demonstrating your expertise, builds trust and attracts buyers over time.

Set up a basic funnel that nurtures potential customers. Offer a free sample, such as a chapter or mini-lesson, to demonstrate value. Capture emails in exchange for that sample. Follow up with value-added content before making your pitch. Use discount codes strategically to encourage first-time buyers and create urgency.

BONUS: Use the Demand Matrix to Guarantee Success

Now, here's a bonus tip that separates successful information products from failures. Most business ideas fail because nobody wants them. The Demand Matrix helps you avoid this trap by evaluating ideas based on two factors: how many people like it and how much they're willing to pay.

Golden goose (high price, many customers)

This is your target quadrant. Many people need it and are willing to pay premium prices. Career-focused online courses, professional certification programs, comprehensive business templates and toolkits, and investment training memberships all fit here. You're solving expensive problems for large audiences willing to invest in solutions.

Mass market (low price, many customers)

Wide appeal but affordable pricing. You make money through volume rather than high margins. Budget-priced ebooks, printable planners and worksheets, low-cost podcast series, and affordable subscription communities work in this quadrant. The challenge is driving enough traffic to make low prices profitable.

High-end (high price, few customers)

Exclusive products for smaller audiences willing to pay premium prices. Luxury coaching programs or specialized consulting serving limited clients at high rates fit here. You need fewer customers but must deliver exceptional value to justify premium pricing.

Labor of love (low price, few customers)

Small audience, low prices, which makes profitability nearly impossible. Teaching niche hobbies to tiny audiences at bargain prices lands here. Avoid this quadrant unless you're treating it as a hobby, not a business.

Your information product should land in a golden goose or high-end territory for the best results. If you're in the mass market, make sure your audience is massive enough to justify low prices. Avoid labor of love unless you're willing to lose money for personal satisfaction.

Growing Your Information Products To Support Your Rich Life

Information products give you something rare: the ability to earn while you sleep. You create once, sell repeatedly, and help people solve real problems. The market is growing, the barriers to entry are low, and the profit margins are high.

Here's your path to creating profitable information products:

• Choose a niche where people are actively searching for solutions and willing to pay for organized information that saves them time.
• Package your knowledge into the format that showcases your strengths, whether that's video, writing, audio, or templates.
• Start with a marketplace to validate demand before investing in your own platform and traffic generation.
• Price appropriately based on the value you deliver and where you land on the Demand Matrix.

The people who succeed don't have secret knowledge. They simply take what they already know, package it well, and put it in front of people who need it. Your expertise has value, even if you don't consider yourself an expert. Someone is three steps behind you right now, searching for exactly what you know.